“Red Flag” Law Awareness: Protecting Against Firearm Harm in Gender-Based Violence

Description:

“Red Flag” laws aim to enhance protections to address firearm-related harm in cases of gender-based violence by allowing individuals to apply to a court to ask for restrictions on a person’s access to firearms where there are safety concerns. This webinar will provide legal professionals with an overview of the development, purpose, and practical implications of recently implemented “Red Flag” laws. It will also trace the legislative history of Bill C-21, leading to the enactment of “Red Flag” laws and other amendments addressing firearm-related harm.

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Speakers : 

Dr. Carolyn Fraser is a member of Ontario’s Domestic Violence Death Review Committee (DVDRC) and a recognized expert in domestic violence prevention and response. Since 2017, she has served at the Ontario Police College (OPC) as the resident subject matter expert on domestic violence, coordinating and delivering specialized investigation training programs, including the Domestic Violence Investigation and Human Trafficking Investigation courses, and providing expertise for basic police recruit training. She also contributed to the development of the Firearms Seizures – In the Interest of Public Safety e-learning course for the Canadian Police Knowledge Network. 

Previously, Dr. Fraser was a sworn constable with the London Police Service for 15 years, spending much of her career in a dedicated domestic violence unit overseeing investigations, monitoring high-risk offenders, and collaborating with justice partners on bail proceedings.

Dr. Fraser earned her Ph.D. in Critical Policy, Equity and Leadership Studies from Western University, where she co-researched the national Canadian Domestic Homicide Prevention Initiative among Vulnerable Populations. Her research focuses on the role of police in safety planning and risk management for victims of domestic violence and children exposed to it, and she has published in peer-reviewed journals on related topics. She also served on the Board of Directors for Violence Against Women, Services Elgin County, including as Chair of the Special Events sub-committee.

Suzanne Zaccour is the Director of Legal Affairs at the National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL). She is a feminist author, researcher and public speaker. She recently completed her doctoral degree in law at Oxford University, focusing on partner sexual violence. Her research interests include sexual and domestic violence, family law, animal rights, and gender and language. Suzanne is the author of La fabrique du viol (Leméac 2019), a book about sexual violence and rape culture, and is finalizing her next book, titled "Why feminists don't eat animals."

Heidi Rathjen graduated from École Polytechnique de Montréal in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Following the December 6, 1989 massacre at her university, she chose to dedicate her career to advancing public safety rather than pursuing engineering. In 1990, she co-founded the Coalition for Gun Control with Wendy Cukier and served as its Executive Director until shortly after the adoption of Canada’s Firearms Act in 1995. She continues her advocacy as a volunteer coordinator and spokesperson for PolyRemembers, a movement of survivors, witnesses, and victims’ families supporting stronger gun control, including Quebec’s long-gun registry and key federal legislation such as Bills C-71 and C-21. In 1996, she co-founded the Coalition québécoise pour le contrôle du tabac, which has played a central role in major tobacco control laws in Quebec and Canada. For her contributions to public health and safety, Ms. Rathjen has received numerous national and international honors.